azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Jack Magruder, Tribune
Brad Halsey swore he was nervous Monday, and he said it with a straight face. But the only emotion Halsey showed much of in his first Diamondbacks start was control.
Halsey pitched six shutout innings and struck out a careerhigh seven in a 2-0 victory over Colorado before a record-low 18,742 fans at Bank One Ballpark in a game that did not seem that close.
Halsey, who won the competition for the No. 5 starter the final week of spring, struck out a careerhigh seven and gave up only four hits — a double and three singles.
"He looks like a senior in high school, and he doesn’t talk much. You don’t know he’s around,’’ Luis Gonzalez said. "He pitched a gem. The kid was fantastic.’’
Halsey walked one and was alleged to have hit another, although replays showed Todd Helton eluded a high-inside fastball in the first inning for which he was given first base.
No matter. Halsey stranded two runners in the first and two more in the third, and Colorado never got a runner as far as third base while dropping to 1-5 for the first time in franchise history.
With Troy Glaus and Shawn Green providing first-inning RBIs and the bullpen throwing three scoreless innings with Brandon Lyon getting his third save, the DBacks (4-3) recorded their first shutout in 48 games.
"I had some jitters out there, but I felt I was able to work through them,’’ said Halsey, 24. "Got through the first inning and calmed down more and more throughout the game.
"I wouldn’t say I was surprised. I know what I am capable of. You are going to have good games and bad games, but I know when I am right, I can be pretty effective.’’
If it was an audition, Halsey got the part.
Previously noncommittal because of the complications of an off-day Friday, Melvin was asked if he had penciled in Halsey for his next start.
"I have him penned in’’ on Sunday against Washington, Melvin said.
"I have him Sharpie-d in.’’
Halsey was precise with his location, throwing first-pitch strikes to 20 of the 24 batters he faced. After topping out at 74 pitches in a game this spring, he threw 86.
Melvin was hoping to get five innings. He got six very sharp innings. Halsey struck out five of the first nine he faced, and helped by a double play, pitched to only one batter over the minimum in the middle three innings.
"When you throw strike one, it gives you a lot of options,’’ Melvin said. "Something we’ve stressed since spring training; we want to throw two of
the first three pitches for strikes. Statistics show when you do that, hitters are under .200.’’
"He was near-perfect. He kept the right-handers honest with the cutter inside, and he got ahead of everyone,’’ Craig Counsell said.
"You can tell he doesn’t get rattled by anything. He’s quiet, but he’s confident.’’
Glaus’ two-out double off Jason Jennings in the first drove in Quinton McCracken, who had walked, and Green followed with a single. Glaus has eight hits this season, all for extra bases. Green has six RBIs, all in the last five games.
Brian Bruney, Mike Koplove and Lyon pitched the final three innings, Bruney entering after Michael Restovich’s single drove off Halsey leading off the seventh.
"I didn’t do the job last time. I wanted to get back in tonight,’’ said Bruney, who gave up two runs Saturday.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=39425
Brad Halsey swore he was nervous Monday, and he said it with a straight face. But the only emotion Halsey showed much of in his first Diamondbacks start was control.
Halsey pitched six shutout innings and struck out a careerhigh seven in a 2-0 victory over Colorado before a record-low 18,742 fans at Bank One Ballpark in a game that did not seem that close.
Halsey, who won the competition for the No. 5 starter the final week of spring, struck out a careerhigh seven and gave up only four hits — a double and three singles.
"He looks like a senior in high school, and he doesn’t talk much. You don’t know he’s around,’’ Luis Gonzalez said. "He pitched a gem. The kid was fantastic.’’
Halsey walked one and was alleged to have hit another, although replays showed Todd Helton eluded a high-inside fastball in the first inning for which he was given first base.
No matter. Halsey stranded two runners in the first and two more in the third, and Colorado never got a runner as far as third base while dropping to 1-5 for the first time in franchise history.
With Troy Glaus and Shawn Green providing first-inning RBIs and the bullpen throwing three scoreless innings with Brandon Lyon getting his third save, the DBacks (4-3) recorded their first shutout in 48 games.
"I had some jitters out there, but I felt I was able to work through them,’’ said Halsey, 24. "Got through the first inning and calmed down more and more throughout the game.
"I wouldn’t say I was surprised. I know what I am capable of. You are going to have good games and bad games, but I know when I am right, I can be pretty effective.’’
If it was an audition, Halsey got the part.
Previously noncommittal because of the complications of an off-day Friday, Melvin was asked if he had penciled in Halsey for his next start.
"I have him penned in’’ on Sunday against Washington, Melvin said.
"I have him Sharpie-d in.’’
Halsey was precise with his location, throwing first-pitch strikes to 20 of the 24 batters he faced. After topping out at 74 pitches in a game this spring, he threw 86.
Melvin was hoping to get five innings. He got six very sharp innings. Halsey struck out five of the first nine he faced, and helped by a double play, pitched to only one batter over the minimum in the middle three innings.
"When you throw strike one, it gives you a lot of options,’’ Melvin said. "Something we’ve stressed since spring training; we want to throw two of
the first three pitches for strikes. Statistics show when you do that, hitters are under .200.’’
"He was near-perfect. He kept the right-handers honest with the cutter inside, and he got ahead of everyone,’’ Craig Counsell said.
"You can tell he doesn’t get rattled by anything. He’s quiet, but he’s confident.’’
Glaus’ two-out double off Jason Jennings in the first drove in Quinton McCracken, who had walked, and Green followed with a single. Glaus has eight hits this season, all for extra bases. Green has six RBIs, all in the last five games.
Brian Bruney, Mike Koplove and Lyon pitched the final three innings, Bruney entering after Michael Restovich’s single drove off Halsey leading off the seventh.
"I didn’t do the job last time. I wanted to get back in tonight,’’ said Bruney, who gave up two runs Saturday.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=39425
